Ep 265 | Your Board's Role in Donor Stewardship with Sabrina Walker Hernandez

Ready to supercharge your nonprofit's donor stewardship game? In this episode, we're joined by the amazing Sabrina Walker Hernandez, a board management guru with over 25 years of nonprofit experience. Sabrina dishes out practical tips on how to engage your board in donor stewardship, from thank-you taskforces to creative cultivation strategies. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you retain donors and maximize your board's impact.

What you'll learn:
→ Why donor stewardship is crucial for nonprofit boards
→ Practical strategies for involving board members in stewardship
→ How to create a culture of gratitude within your organization
→ Tips for developing a comprehensive stewardship plan
→ Ways to leverage board members' strengths in fundraising efforts

Want to skip ahead? Here are key takeaways:
[6:23] The fundraising process breakdown: Sabrina reveals that 60% of fundraising is relationship cultivation, 15% is stewardship, and only 5% is actually asking for money. This insight helps shift focus from the “ask” to building and maintaining donor relationships.
[13:09] Leadership Mindset Shift: Instead of lamenting that “my board won't fundraise,” Sabrina encourages nonprofit leaders to ask, “How can I better lead and educate my board?” This perspective change empowers CEOs to take responsibility for board engagement and success.
[24:46] Donor Care at All Levels: Sabrina shares a story about a wealthy donor who would test organizations with small initial donations. This emphasizes the importance of treating all donors with equal care and respect, regardless of gift size.
[28:29] Implement a “five by five” plan: This practical strategy involves assigning each board member five donors to steward, with a goal of five meaningful touchpoints throughout the year. This structured approach helps ensure consistent donor engagement.
[35:33] Leveraging Board Strengths: Sabrina stresses the importance of focusing on board members' individual strengths. A board member who excels at stewardship and cultivation can be incredibly valuable, even if they're not comfortable directly asking for money.

Resources
Visit Supporting World Hope for Sabrina's social media platforms, services, and to join her VIP resource library. https://supportingworldhope.com/

Listen to episode 172 where Sabrina and Sami discuss Utilizing Your Board in You Marketing Efforts. https://thefirstclick.net/172

President/CEO, Supporting World Hope Coaching & Consulting, LLC

Sabrina Walker Hernandez has over 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and leadership. She grew her operation revenue from $750,000 to $2.5M and completed a $12M capital campaign. She is certified in Nonprofit Management by Harvard Business School and a bestselling author.

Learn more at https://supportingworldhope.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawalkerhernandez/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supportingworldhope
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_nonprofitexpert
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/supportingworldhope

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours

Ready to supercharge your nonprofit's donor stewardship game? In this episode, we're joined by the amazing Sabrina Walker Hernandez, a board management guru with over 25 years of nonprofit experience. Sabrina dishes out practical tips on how to engage your board in donor stewardship, from thank-you taskforces to creative cultivation strategies. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you retain donors and maximize your board's impact.

What you'll learn: → Why donor stewardship is crucial for nonprofit boards → Practical strategies for involving board members in stewardship → How to create a culture of gratitude within your organization → Tips for developing a comprehensive stewardship plan → Ways to leverage board members' strengths in fundraising efforts

Want to skip ahead? Here are key takeaways: [6:23] The fundraising process breakdown: Sabrina reveals that 60% of fundraising is relationship cultivation, 15% is stewardship, and only 5% is actually asking for money. This insight helps shift focus from the “ask” to building and maintaining donor relationships. [13:09] Leadership Mindset Shift: Instead of lamenting that “my board won't fundraise,” Sabrina encourages nonprofit leaders to ask, “How can I better lead and educate my board?” This perspective change empowers CEOs to take responsibility for board engagement and success. [24:46] Donor Care at All Levels: Sabrina shares a story about a wealthy donor who would test organizations with small initial donations. This emphasizes the importance of treating all donors with equal care and respect, regardless of gift size. [28:29] Implement a “five by five” plan: This practical strategy involves assigning each board member five donors to steward, with a goal of five meaningful touchpoints throughout the year. This structured approach helps ensure consistent donor engagement. [35:33] Leveraging Board Strengths: Sabrina stresses the importance of focusing on board members' individual strengths. A board member who excels at stewardship and cultivation can be incredibly valuable, even if they're not comfortable directly asking for money.

Resources Visit Supporting World Hope for Sabrina's social media platforms, services, and to join her VIP resource library. https://supportingworldhope.com/

Listen to episode 172 where Sabrina and Sami discuss Utilizing Your Board in You Marketing Efforts. https://thefirstclick.net/172

President/CEO, Supporting World Hope Coaching & Consulting, LLC

Sabrina Walker Hernandez has over 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and leadership. She grew her operation revenue from $750,000 to $2.5M and completed a $12M capital campaign. She is certified in Nonprofit Management by Harvard Business School and a bestselling author.

Learn more at https://supportingworldhope.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawalkerhernandez/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supportingworldhope Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_nonprofitexpert YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/supportingworldhope

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours